Train to be spiritual warriors

GIVEN our objective dignity as children of God and our

current human condition that will always be hounded by our own

weaknesses, the temptations in the world and by the devil, we should

train ourselves to be spiritual warriors who know how to wage a

lifelong war of love and peace against the enemies of God and of our

soul.

  

            Yes, our life will always involve some fighting, some

struggling. But let’s always remember that we have a Father who takes

care of everything. He assures us that everything will just be all

right even if we commit some mistakes as long as we are with him or we

go back to him after we fall. He will always welcome us with open

arms.

   

            We should not worry too much over the erratic condition of

our life in this world. While God assures us of his love and mercy, he

does not exempt us from having to fight against his enemies and those

of our soul, because our life here on earth is still the time of God’s

creation and redemption of us. There will always be trials and

temptations to contend with.

  

            We have to learn to always choose God over anything else,

knowing that with him everything else that we need will be taken care

of. We just have to learn the art of fighting, of smelling dangers

even from afar, of protecting and defending ourselves from temptations

and the consequences of sin.

  

            We have to hone our combat skills, knowing how to say no

to temptations and how to conquer more areas of love for God and for

others. Usually the fighting is done in little things, and if we are

faithful in these little skirmishes, then we would be ready when the

big battles come along.

  

            We cannot deny that in our life we have to face many

challenges and some of them can be very difficult, if not impossible

and insurmountable, ones. I always remember what St. Paul once said

regarding this point:

   

            “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do

not do, but what I hate to do,” he said. (Rom 7,15) “I have the desire

to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the

good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on

doing,” he continued. (18-19)

  

            And he explained why this is so. “As it is, it is no

longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that

good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature…Now if

I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is

sin living in me that does it.”

   

            We should not be surprised anymore by this phenomenon. We

just have to accept it and learn to deal with it as best that we can.

That is what matters. And what we cannot accomplish despite our best

efforts, Christ will take care of it.

  

            Christ has assured us of his mercy. “In this world you

will have trouble,” he said. “But take heart! I have overcome the

world.” (Jn 16,33) And thus, while we have to continually wage war

against our real enemies, we can still manage us to have peace of mind

and even joy.

  

            Of course, this assurance of Christ should not lead us to

lower our guards or to soften our desire to progress in our love and

in our spiritual life. Rather, it should spur us to sharpen our desire

to make war with our real enemies, since we are assured of victory.

  

            Yes, we can manage to be spiritual warriors but always

looking good and even elegant!